Top 10 Most Expensive Cruise Ships Ever Built

Massive ships aren’t cheap, especially when it’s outfitted with all the bells and whistles, plush finishes, and facilities you’d find in a world-class resort. With contemporary cruise ships costing hundreds of millions of dollars to build (or much more, as we’ll soon learn), it’s no surprise that the average ticket price is so high. If you’ve ever wondered how much some of the world’s largest and most luxurious cruise ships cost to build, stay reading for our list of the top 10 most expensive cruise ships ever built.

10. P&O Iona

Iona is the largest cruise ship ever built for the UK market, with over 30 dining and drinking options. The ship, which can accommodate 5,200 guests, offers the atmosphere of a bustling yet elegant floating resort.

The ship is definitely eye-catching. The magnificent Grand Atrium, with walls of glass on both sides spanning three levels and flooding the area with light and sea vistas, is at the core of Iona’s deck layout. A curving marble staircase sweeps down into the center, while polished white marble and shimmering chrome add to the beautiful, spacious vibe.

09. Carnival Mardi Gras

Carnival Mardi Gras, a $950 million cruise ship that will be launched in 2020, is the most recent addition to the Carnival cruise line. This is the largest ship in the fleet, with a gross tonnage of 184,000 tons and 2641 rooms. BOLTTM: Ultimate Sea Coaster, the first roller coaster ever aboard a cruise ship, is featured.

08. Celebrity Edge

Celebrity Cruises Celebrity Edge is another new billion-dollar luxury ship currently in service. Built by STX France, Celebrity Edge is the first Edge-class cruise ship of her owner and started her maiden voyage in December 2018.

This 1,004 ft-long vessel has a tonnage of 130,818GT and is capable of accommodating 2,918 passengers and 1,377 crew members.

07. Norwegian Bliss

Norwegian Cruise Line’s brand-new behemoth luxury ship- Norwegian Bliss– that set sail last year, also joins the list with about $1 billion in production costs.

Built by Meyer Werft, the 168,028 GT Norwegian Bliss has a length of 1,094 ft, moulded beam of 136.2 ft and a maximum draft of 29.53 ft.

06. MSC Meraviglia & MSC Bellissima

MSC Cruises MSC Meraviglia cruise ship is the lead ship of MSC’s new class of vessels being built by STX France. The cost of production of one ship in this class is reportedly around $ 1 billion as this vessel is part of the Geneva-based line’s $10.2 billion investment for a total of 11 vessels to be delivered by 2026.

Set its first sail in June 2017, MSC Meraviglia was the world’s 4th largest cruise ship when it launched, behind Oasis-class ships.

05. AIDAnova

AIDA Cruises’ first of the new Excellence-class ships, AIDAnova, is reportedly the fifth-biggest passenger vessel in the world. The cost of producing this 337 meters long luxury vessel, built by Meyer Werft in Germany, is a reported $1.1 billion.

Launched in December 2018, AIDA nova’s highlight is the Green Cruising concept- the world’s first cruise ship that can be powered at sea and in port by liquefied natural gas (LNG).

04. Norwegian Epic

One of the most expensive ships of Norwegian cruise lines, the Norwegian Epic, cost 1.2 billion U.S. dollars to build because of its unique design and size.

The ship has one of the largest Aqua Parks and cabins for single passengers. When built, it was the third-largest cruise ship in the world to carry 4,228 passengers. It was recently refurbished in 2020, making it an updated luxury to travel.

03. MSC World Europa

The most expensive cruise ship in terms of building cost in MSC cruises, the MSC World Europa is few of the green fuel ships present today. Powered by LNG, one of the world’s cleanest marine fuels, and featuring breakthrough green technologies, MSC World Europa symbolizes the beginning of a new era of cruising. These unique and environmental features make MSC world Europa one of the most expensive cruise ships in the world, with a build cost of a whopping USD 1.25 Billion.

02. Oasis Class: Symphony of the Seas & Harmony of the Seas

Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis-class cruise ship Symphony of the Seas is the world’s largest passenger ship currently in service. Thus, for obvious reasons, Symphony of the Seas is one the most expensive cruise ships in the world now, with a cost of production of $1.35 billion.

Built by STX France, the vessel measures 1188 feet in length, 215.5 feet in width and 238 feet in height, with a gross registered tonnage of 228,081t.

The ship that started its maiden voyage in April 2018 features 18 decks and is capable of accommodating a maximum of 6,680 passengers and a 2,200-person crew.

01. Oasis Luxury Class: Allure of the Seas & Oasis of the Seas

The Allure of the Seas is one of the two most expensive cruise ships in operation around the world. The second ship in the Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis-class cruise ships, Allure of the Seas, was the world’s largest passenger ship when it launched in November 2009.

Reportedly, around $1.4bn was incurred in constructing this world-class cruise ship at the STX Europe Turku shipyard in Finland.

This 1,187 feet long vessel measures 215 feet in width with a gross registered tonnage of 225,282t. With 18 total decks, the vessel can accommodate a total of 6,780 guests and 2,200 crew members.